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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Public Education in the Value of Environmentalism, CleanTechHere’s a reader who believes that public education on the subject of environmentalism is required.  Hard to argue with that.  Our discussion:

Paul:  What we need most is education of the public.  People are too afraid of “change”.  Change to geothermal from HVAC, but then they’ll gripe about energy bills, always climbing. It should be “law” that all new construction has geothermal and solar.  Once it takes hold, and people see how much they save, it will hit the remodel scene like crazy.  Now, it’s just the “educated fringe” that sees the benefits.

Craig:  You’re absolutely right.  In terms of education, however, I see this happening VERY quickly; (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Roger Priddle writes in response to my request for suggestions for new business models and strategies:

Thanks to you and all the others who refuse to let the discussion (on environmentalism) die.

I find I can get a positive reaction when I talk to “middle school” students. They’ve heard a lot of the comments, and are young enough to be idealistic, to think that they can make a difference.

So I volunteer to talk to elementary school classes and assemblies. Can’t make a living doing it, and I find the teachers burn out on the subject after just a few years so I’m constantly looking for new ways in, but I’ve heard from a number of high school students how a talk I gave years ago stuck with them and that, for a while at least, they modified their behaviors. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Helping Craft the U.S. Energy Policy -- Check Out the Mayday PACHere’s another discussion I had with a reader who responded to my request for suggestions about new potential courses:

Reader: I know this may be a little out there but have you tried engaging in the determination of public policy?

Craig: I would love to be a part of public policy, though I’m not sure I’m willing to wade through 1000 miles of sewer water to get there.

Here’s something I wrote the other day, commenting on Lawrence Lessig (pictured here) and his plan to remove the corruptive influence of money on U.S. politics, called the Mayday PAC.  I’d sure like to see this succeed, and I support it 100%, but until it does, realize that we’re talking about a cesspool of considerable magnitude here.  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

2GreenEnergy Business Models and StrategiesIn response to my request for a suggestion on new, untapped strategies and business models for 2GreenEnergy, one of my earliest subscribers wrote:

I have always admired your work and your skills. You are where you belong in CleanTech. It is just standing back and looking at the whole picture. Where was the world before Edison, the Wright brothers, and especially Ford? They, and many more, were all being told that their ideas wouldn’t work.

“The horse is here to stay, but the automobile is only a novelty – a fad.”   (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

U.S. Government Expands Subsidies to the Fossil Fuels Industry, Throwing Cold Water on the Migration to Renewable EnergyI expressed in a recent post how certain areas of the U.S., including Hawaii, can migrate to renewable energy very rapidly.  The operative word there is “can” (expressing the possibility), as distinguished from “will” (expressing the future as it is likely to occur).

That’s because the U.S. government is further expanding the already large and obscene level of subsidies that the American taxpayers bestow upon the fossil fuel industry.  Until and unless We The People can regain control of our government’s behavior in this arena, renewables will remain a minor contributor to the overall energy picture.

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Photovoltaics

KauaiHere’s an article about a “Perfect Storm for Renewables,” which describes how Kauai, one of the less-populated Hawaiian Islands, is poised to hit 40% renewable energy on their electricity grid.  This is largely driven by homeowners who have installed solar PV, which already provides an enormous chunk of the island’s peak energy.

In truth, it wouldn’t be impossible to achieve 100%, and then go on to replace gasoline powered cars with electric vehicles.  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Hydrokinetics

Solar Energy in the U.S., Run-of-River Hydro in BrazilI got home last night from a couple of days in San Francisco at the InterSolar show, an event whose purpose is to promote the numerous technologies that surround humankind’s efforts to power our planet from our local star.  And speaking of star, the event, with the enormous crowds of dedicated industry professionals that attend it, gets more stellar every year. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainable Building

Corporate Sustainability, Industrial/Commercial Real Estate

I’m proud to announce that we’ve added a new 2GreenEnergy “Associate” — Kevin Cullina (pictured here in casual attire), whose career I describe as follows: “Applying the Principles of Corporate Sustainability to Industrial and Commercial Real Estate.”

Kevin’s relationship with us here at 2GreenEnergy began when he and I were introduced last year, and we started to talk about how the corporate world is constantly rethinking its responsibilities and opportunities vis-a-vis more efficient buildings, reduced transportation “footprint” associated with employee travel, and so forth. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Biomass

Thermal Anaerobic GasificationThose of you who may have checked out our page on renewable energy investment opportunities will recall our relation with a company called RRC and its unique approach and capability in thermal anaerobic gasification.  I’ll be taking a break from my self-imposed task of visiting the most interesting booths at the Intersolar show to have lunch with RRC’s senior VP.

These folks’ technology boasts a wide variety of applications, but it’s really the only game in town for the processing of forms of biomass that have been treated with certain chemicals, e.g., creosote-soaked railroad ties, which can otherwise produce dioxins—among the most lethal poisons known to humankind.

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Efficiency

Seven Green Innovations in the Electric Power IndustryThe electric power industry is becoming more active in the development of green innovations in both the residential and commercial sectors that lessen its carbon footprint. Some well-known and widely used innovations include energy efficient appliance and equipment, the wider use of wind power and similar steps.
Oftentimes in partnership with other entities, the electric power industry has supported other more unique and creative green innovations in an effort to better protect the environment. (more…)

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